Submarine life boat



D. J. CARR.

SUBMARINE LIFE BOAT. APPLICATION FILE'D NOV. 18. mu.

Patented July 8, 1915).

2 SHEETS--SHLET l- Dame! J Carr Wmk'idfl M4 7% D. J. CARR.

SUBMARINE LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I0. 1911;.

1,309,563. 121mm July a, 1919.- I LETS--SHEET 2.

Jrrwni'or Danie? J Carr 7123' dda yarmegew SUBMABINE LIFE-BOAT.

, menace.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, i919.

Application tiled November 18, was. Serial No. 282.935.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Daniel. J. CARR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Les Angcles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Subn'iarine Life-Boats, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to an attachment to a submarine, whereby the crew may escape to the surface from the submarine, when the latter is submerged.

It is :1 object of this invention to provide a lil'e boat for a submarine, which can be entered from the submarine, when the lat or is submerged, and which can then be released so that it may rise to the surface.

It is another. object of this invention to provide a life boat in combination with a submarine so that the exit item the submarine to the life boat may be closed by the occupants of the lite boat, thereby ermitting salvage of the submarine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a life boat structiire so arranged as not to interfere with the normal operation of the submarine.

I accomplish these objects by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary longitudinal section througlgh a submarine with my attachment; applied thereto, the forward part of the submarine being shown. Fig. 2 is an enlarged lragrmentary section taken on the line :2-2 of Fig. 1, only a frag ment of the submarine being shown. Fl". 25 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section of the man-hole, showing the details of connection between the various elements. Fig. l is a section taken on the line -il-ii of Fig. Fig. 5 is an enlar ed fragmentary view in section of the releasing structure shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. (3 l5 a section taken on the line ti-t3 of Fig.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a submarinev is indicated by A. Built; upon the submarine isa supcr-striurture indicated by B. This is in general the superstructure, which supports the walking dot-k, Mounted in the superstructure so as to be released therefrom is a life boat (.3. A man-hole way D connects the submarine and life bmrt,'providiug means of access from the submarine to the lite boat. It is usual ,to divide the submarine into several .therool is a member 27 having a slot lol compartments separated by bulkheads. There may be several life boats, each communicating with a separate compartment, although, herein I have only shown one, as it sulliciently illustrates the invention.

The super-structure is built up to form an open iron frame work, and has supporting bars 7 conforming to the shape of the bottom of the life boat, and upon which the latter rests. Adjacent the top of the superstructure and extending downwardly are keeper bars 8, which parallel the sides of the life boat.

Re ferrmr more particularly to Figs. 1 and '3, the shell 9 of the submarine is provided with a man-hole opening, in which is Secured a cylindrical member 10, which extends above and within the shell of the submarine. lhc upper end of the man-hole way '10 is flanged outwardly as indicated by 11. Secured to the upper face of the flange is a rubber gasket 12 held in place by steel rings 13 and ll. The bottom of the lifeboat hull 15 is provided with a man-hole opening, which registers with the cylindrical member 10. Placed around the opening in the life boat are openings for dogs to. A steel bearing 17 is provided for each dog opening, and disposed thcrcin is a brass bush lug 18. The upper and of the dog is threadcd and provided with a squared wrench hold below the threaded end. The book 19 of the dog is disposed so that it may be swung underneath the flange 11 of the manhole way. A dog wrouch it) is mounted upon a squared cud ol' the dog shank, and holding it in position is a cap 21 mounted upon the threaded rod. The cap 1 is adjusted so as to tighten the booloo'l' the dog against the llungc and compress the gasket. 12, thereby niahing a water tight lit between the man-hole way and the life boat shell. It is obvious that by turning a dog, its book may be moved oil' the flange, thereby releasing the life boat from the man-hole way. This operation may be performed from within the lite boat.

At the edge of the hum-hole opening of the lite boat is a ring" angle 22. Secured to the angle are brackets 33, to which bolts 34 are pivotally secured. Mounted uponthe upper edge of angle 52: is a man-hole cover .25 having a rubber gasket it; for making a water tight. lit with the angle. Fnstcncd to the cover .35 and overhanging the cd e the and packed by packing boxes 38.

bolt 24 to swing into. The bolts 24: areprovided. with nuts 28, so that when swung into position for locking, a nut may be tightened to hold the cover 25 in closed position.

The man-hole way is provided with a lip 29 at its lower end. Mounted o er the lip 29 and within the submarine is a man-hole cover 30 having a gasket 31 to make a Water tight fit With the man-hole way. Pivoted' bolts 32are mounted upon the way and coop crate with a member 33 for fastening the cover in place from within the submarine. Secured to the cover 30 are bolts 34 having dogs 35 for engaging the lip 29 and permitting the man-hole cover to be fastened in place from within the life boat. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 5, the life boat hull is provided with openings in the sides'thereof,which are covered with cast steel boxes 36. Shafts 37 are slidably extended through the cast steel boxes On the 1 her. 36 is a cradle 39 forming a socket for .posed at the other end of the boat.

the ball of a latch 40. Latch 40 is provided with a slot 41, .in which rides a pin 42 secured to the shaft 37. When the shaft 37 is moved to its outer position, the latch 40 will be swung, tothe position shown in dotted lines and will register with the keeper bar 8. A brass facing 43 is mounted upon the keeper bar to provide a non-corrodible surface of contact between the latch and keeper bar. There are a number of these latches, Which are disposed in pairs, members of a pair being in alinement on opposite sides of the boat.

Shaft 37 is rectangular at its outer end, where it passes through the cast steel box, and rounded at the other end, which is pro vided with ii. thread lat. Referrii'ig particularly to Fig. 2, it will be noticed that there is a latch upon the opposite side of the lite boat having a shatt 37 in alinement with shaft 37. The thread H- is right handed,

while the thread-4+ upon shaft 37' is left. A sleeve 45 is mounted upon the handed. ends of the aliucd shafts, and has internal threads at its ends cooperating with the threadsupon the shafts. Secured to the sleeve 45 is a worm wheel 4.6. A hanger bearing 47 is secured to the shell of the life boat, and journaled therein is the sleeve 45.

A similar set of gearing and latches ,is dis- Referring moreparticularly to Fig. 1.. a worm shaft 48 is jouruale'd in hanger bearings, and meshes with the worm wheel 46 and the corresponding worm wheel at the other end. Mounted upon the shaft 48 are ratchets 49 for turning the shaft. It .is obvious that.

.- upon turning the shaft l8, the latches will .be projected, or retracted in syuchronism through theintermediate gearing. By this means occupants of the life boat can retract mosses the latches and release the life boat from the super-structure.

The life boat is entirely closed except for the man-hole opening at the bottom and-a similar man-hole opening at the top. The top man-hole opening is closed by a cover 50 held in place by bolts It is through the top man-hole that the occupants of the boat can leave upon reaching the surface.

The life boat is placed in position as shown in F igs, l and 2, the man-hole covers 50 and being closed. Cover 25 is open. If for any reason the crew are unable to bring the submarine to the surface, they make ready to escape. The cock 52 in door 30 s tried for water. If there is no Water, the the door 30 is opened and the life boat entered. The door 30 is then hauled up by the air of ring and the dogs 35 set on the lip flange of the way. The dooris then fastened in position by tightening the dog bolts. This leaves.the submarine protected against the entrance of water. A line having a float secured thereto is attached to the ring Upon release of the lifeboat, the float will rise to the surface, thereby indicating the position of the submarine. Next, door 25 is closed and fastened in position by bolts 24:. This makes both the life boat and submarine secure from the entrance of water. step is to slacken the cap nuts 21, and a blow with a hammer on the wrenches QOwill turn the dogs :tree from the flange 11. releasesthe life boat from attachment to the man-hole way, and it is only necessary to release the life boat from the super-structure to free it entirely from the submarine. To accomplish this, the ratchets 49 are turned, operatingthe worm gear and retracting the latches from the keeper bars. The latches are so arranged that they move in unison so that all become tree at the same instant, sll'owing the lite boat to rise to the surface by its own buoyancy. When the life boat reaches the surface, bolts 51 may be released and the man-hole cover 50 opened. allowing the occupants to maketheir exit from the life boat at the proper time. The submarine remains in position at the bottom with no opening for the entrance of water other than any which may have been occasioned by accident.

' As before stated a his boat may be placed Over each compartment of the submarine.

invention, 1 have shown no such structure.

The next LG shaft htwows;

1y a 1 alum is,

cmnbihziition with n, submarim 0i: 2 boat forming a water tight compartment, 11. 1m 1) connecting said boat and said siulmuizinu, imepi'ar burs si-cured to said subiimzvii 1, :ucmm to the aides 01 m1 7901M :im' a intn and (mi of irngugumuniv with'sziid l t impel" burs, shafts Mid against 1%)- iililifln :mci Siiiiilbij/ disposed in said shall, a 1155843111'311 110 each in'urh, shit! shufta having thrombi i'zlmrunn, siCPJiN hehl against hmgilmiilml nmwnmnt um] ung'ngvd with the i'iuxuuis m1 nlinml shafts, and mums i0 miutv mid siocvvs in unison im' projection and i-uizmci iun of said shafts, whereby '0 0punite Hiihi hitches.

In witness that i. claim the foregoing I hung iu-.;-z-unt0 isuhacrihmi my name this 1st DANHGL J. CARR. 

